Rumour: The Amazing Spider-Man 3 delayed until 2017?

Sony set to push back initial release dates

The Amazing Spider-Man 3 may not swing into cinemas until 2017, with AICN reporting that Sony is keen to delay the film's release by a year.

The studio had previously announced 2016 and 2018 release dates for the third and fourth instalments of the franchise respectively, but is thought to be planning a rejig in order to maximise box-office impact.

Despite a strong opening weekend, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 saw audiences drop off drastically, a situation that could possibly be attributed to franchise fatigue.

With the first film in the rebooted franchise appearing in 2012, Sony had planned for a new Spider-Man film every two years, not to mention spin-off projects such as Venom and Sinister Six .

This may now be reconsidered, as the studio rethinks how to get the best out of one of its key properties, although at this stage, nothing has been officially announced.